How to Use Excalidraw for Free (No Account Needed)
Excalidraw is a free whiteboard that runs in your browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install. Open excalidraw.com, sketch a small decision flow with boxes, a diamond and labelled arrows, fix a label, and export it as a PNG picture. Example: a made-up library book return.
Step by step
Free, no account
- Excalidraw for free. Need a quick diagram but don't want to pay, install anything or make an account? Excalidraw is free and runs in your browser. We'll sketch a small flow and save it as a picture. Here's the one we'll draw.
- excalidraw.com. Go to excalidraw.com. That's it. No sign up, no download. The empty canvas opens right away, and your drawing is kept in this browser while you work.
Sketch the flow
- Draw a box. Our example is a library book return. Pick the rectangle in the toolbar, drag on the canvas, press Enter and type. Scan book.
- Decision. Next to the rectangle in the toolbar is the diamond. A diamond is a decision. Draw one to the right and ask a short question. Late?
- Arrows. Pick the arrow and drag from the edge of the box to the edge of the diamond. Both ends stick, so the arrow follows if you move a shape.
- Draw a box. If the book is late, the member pays a fine. Add that box on the right.
- Arrows. Draw the arrow, press Enter and type yes. Every path out of a decision gets a label.
- Draw a box. If it's on time, the book goes back on the shelf. Put that box under the diamond.
- Arrows. Arrow down from the diamond, and label it no.
- Fix a label. Changed your mind about a word? Click the box, press Enter, and type over it. Shelve book.
- The finished sketch. Click an empty spot to see the finished sketch. Three steps, one decision, and a label on both paths out of it.
Save a picture
- Export PNG. Now save it as a picture, still for free. Open the menu at the top left, choose export image, and click PNG. Paste it into your email or your requirements document.
Recap
- The rules. So, open excalidraw.com, no account needed. Drag to draw, press Enter to label, and glue arrows from edge to edge. Then export a PNG to share it.
